Major parties reject inclusion of Jakarta Charter<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The country's two largest parties reiterated
\ntheir intention to reject inclusion of the Jakarta Charter in
\nArticle 29 of the 1945 Constitution, viewing the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP)'s effort to institute the doctrine for
\nIslamic Syariah law merely an expression of responsibility to its
\nconstituents.<\/p>\n
Members of the Golkar Party and the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) told The Jakarta Post on
\nMonday that it would be a waste of energy reopening discussion on
\ninclusion of the charter, which would mean full implementation of
\nIslamic law for Muslims in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
PPP chairman Hamzah Haz insisted on Saturday that inclusion of
\nthe charter would threaten other religions in the country.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Charter, intended to form the basis of the
\nPreamble of the 1945 Constitution, attracted considerable debate
\nat the time over the wording \"obliging its followers to exercise
\nIslamic laws\". The charter was later dropped from the
\nConstitution.<\/p>\n
\"PPP should stick to their political choice to fight for the
\nJakarta Charter, but I don't think this is a serious effort. They
\njust have to appear to be consistent, especially to their
\nconstituents,\" Ade Komaruddin of the Golkar Party said.<\/p>\n
He further said that it would be strange if PPP did not
\nsuggest the move after the party's chairman Hamzah Haz was
\nelected Vice President.<\/p>\n
\"It's their ideology to fight for Islam, but I am sure that
\nthey understand political realities may hamper them in their
\neffort. For Golkar, we are not in the position to insist on the
\nJakarta Charter,\" Ade said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's two largest Muslim organizations -- Nadhatul Ulama
\n(NU) and Muhammadiyah -- also rejected the charter's
\nimplementation, saying that it would only provoke religious
\ndisharmony.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Roy B. Janis also said that the
\nsuggestion was just an idea and every political party had the
\nright to propose anything.<\/p>\n
\"But I believe that they realize the political reality that it
\nwas decided by our founding fathers not to include Piagam Jakarta
\n(the Jakarta Charter), so why should we further discuss the
\nissue?\" Roy said.<\/p>\n
He also stressed that the debate was not a sign of discord
\nbetween the nation's two leaders as PPP's suggestion to include
\nthe Jakarta Charter was something to be expected, which the
\nPresident had considered earlier.<\/p>\n
\"We know they will lobby for the Jakarta Charter because it is
\ntheir political stance, but we cannot stop people from throwing
\nforward a suggestion,\" Roy commented.<\/p>\n
Separately, Syaiful Achmad of the National Mandate Party (PAN)
\nsaid that he personally supported PPP's suggestion and hoped that
\nother Muslim-based parties would support the idea.<\/p>\n
\"It is a good idea, but of course PAN as a party does not
\nsupport it. Many of the (PAN) members personally support the
\nsuggestion,\" Syaiful told the Post.<\/p>\n
\"I think many legislators, from the Muslim-based parties
\nactually support the suggestion and will continue to fight for it
\nat the 1945 Constitution amendment process by the People's
\nConsultative Assembly,\" he remarked. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/major-parties-reject-inclusion-of-jakarta-charter-1447893297",
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